Online booze delivery hub plan raises fears

RESIDENTS are concerned an online alcohol delivery service specialising in ‘bespoke’ Caribbean rum could lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Island Rumz does not intend to sell any drink from its premises in Castleton, Rochdale, with the Croydon Avenue property being used solely for storage.

Customers would make purchases online which would then be delivered to their homes by Amazon.

An application for a licence to supply alcohol between 12noon and midnight, seven days a week, is set go before a Rochdale council panel next Tuesday.

The firm was set up by Delgado Junior Waite and step-dad Craig Hunt. The duo began making their own flavoured rum in lockdown and have now partnered with Midlands-based distillery Staffordshire Brewery.

But while the authorities have no concerns over the family business, a number of ‘representations’ have been made by worried locals.

A report to the council’s licensing sub-committee outlines objections to the application made by Castleton residents.

Saba Raza has told the authority she ‘does not believe a business venture of this nature is appropriate in a residential area’.

She also expressed concerns over a possible ‘increase in antisocial behaviour, noise nuisance and road traffic’ in the vicinity should the licence be granted.

Romeila Sheika also highlighted road safety issues in her objection, noting the ‘poor road visibility due to the property being situated on a bend’.

She adds that residents are already suffering ‘anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance’ and fears the granting of a licence ‘may exacerbate issues’.

Meanwhile Carole Lewis expressed similar concerns about ‘anti-social behavior escalating’ and being directed at vulnerable people in the area.

She also worries that the business could attract ‘congregations of youths, leading to noise nuisance, littering (and) vandalism’.

Ms Lewis’ also raises the possibility of ‘underage drinking’ in a nearby park, traffic congestion and road safety issues.

A total of six representations were made by members of the public.

Island Rumz will be able to make their case for a grant of the licence in front of a council subcommittee next week.

Objectors will also be able to speak out about their concerns.

The panel must ultimately be satisfied that the applicant will uphold the four ‘licensing conditions’.

These include preventing crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

The committee will then have the option to granting the application, granting it with ‘appropriate conditions’ or rejecting it in full.

Rochdale council’s licensing sub-committee meets at Number One Riverside on Tuesday morning (December 7).